Today we’d like to introduce you to Caro Espinoza.
Caro, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was told I was exposed to Flamenco before I was ever born…
My mother listened to the Gypsy Kings while she was pregnant with me and before I could ever walk as a toddler, I would make a rhythm out of anything really; the table, the floor, pots & pans, etc. Being the romantic woman that she is, my mother listened to Mexican boleros, trios, Cuban music, tango, salsa and of course some flamenco.
I began my musical journey at the age of seven learning two Peruvian instruments: charango which is a small bellied 10 string guitar and the zampoña which is an Andean panpipe. A teacher at the elementary school, I was a student at taught these instruments, including flamenco guitar to the older kids. I was immediately attracted to the sounds and he hesitantly taught me being that I was so young. By this time, I was a first-grader taking private flamenco guitar lessons, absorbing everything he gave me like a sponge.
Some years later, I joined a mariachi for kids and was then accepted to Orange County School of the Arts. There, I met my mentor and long-time friend, Walter Molina, who led me to what I know now. He took me to Spain with him to meet his teachers and there I immersed myself in an unknown culture to many. I took private lessons every day from a praised family of Gypsy guitarists, watched them perform, performed with them on stage, and experienced some of the beautiful histories that is sung about in flamenco. I feel I was exposed to the true essence of the art.
I feel fortunate enough to not only be a female guitarist but a female flamenco guitarist. There aren’t too many of us here in the country let alone Los Angeles and OC.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I play music, more specifically flamenco. My favorite thing is to interpret rather than compose. I haven’t gotten that deep yet into my studies to compose something brilliant. But I really love interpreting, I think there are so many different ways to say something and if you convey it in the right way, anyone can understand it.
Sometimes when performing, I might get lost in my music with my head down in focus and occasionally I remember to look up. When that happens, I can connect more and transmit to one person or a group of people. It depends on who is really listening. But I think that’s one of the hardest things to do, is to connect. I think it comes from deep inside yourself, you really have to love what you do and no matter how hard it can get, you have to love the tough times too.
I’m a girl from Santa Ana, who has superseded all of her ideas and dreams of playing the guitar. I never thought I would reach a place of ability and technique that I have now, but I just kept going. I know it might sound cliche but if you work really hard at something, you’ll have a beautiful outcome.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
I think the level of everything; whether it be music, fashion, technology, etc. is all so heightened. The bar is set so high already and I think for artists who are coming out trying to make something of themselves can be really difficult because all everyone sees are extremely talented teenagers.
I think the cities we have around us are doing their best trying to get the new generation of artists out into the world. It’s hard for us to do it by ourselves, so we need a community to help us along.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I’m in the process of building up my YouTube channel (@LaCaro). You can follow me there and on my Instagram which is in full effect (@lacaro_flamenkita).
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacaro_flamenkita/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCjHlFMd83aWs-xzNmRl9A?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
Joe McCormack, Johnathan Loza and Savannah Chinelli
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